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New to the blog

Hello everyone! A little about me: My name's Elysse James. I'm a 22-year-old copy editor working in Southern California for a mid-sized daily newspaper. Before I was hired as a copy editor I was an intern reporter. Before (and during) the internship, I worked for my college paper.

Since I've transitioned from student/employee to just employee, I've noticed a lot of downsizing in the industry. At my paper, I feel that when someone leaves their job may not be filled until months, even years, later. But because of this, it seems the younger generation (juggling work and school, anyone?) is stepping up, taking on tasks that the seasoned journalists are unwilling to add to their list of responsibilities.

This is a great opportunity, allowing younger journalists to show what we can do. But because we are proving we can handle it all, we may be enabling managment to hold off hiring more people, which is definitely not good.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Do you take on as much responsibility as you can handle? Do seasoned journalists at your papers help out or do they hold off in the hopes a new hire will soon fill the position? Are small staffs the future of the industry?

I hope to hear from all of you!
Published Wednesday, March 28, 2007 7:34 PM by ElysseJames
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Comments

# re: New to the blog

Thursday, March 29, 2007 12:30 PM by SonyaSmith
Yeah! Welcome Elysse!
For those that don't know - Elysse and I worked together at the Daily 49er. She's a great gal and likes listening to old swing music sometimes, like myself. I hope her stepping up for the blog inspires others out there.
And yes Elysse, small staffs are everywhere.
It's a fine line as a young journalist between taking work on and taking on too much. My community newspaper has slimmed down a bit, and I've filled in off and on for the daily reporter for almost a year now. I think that my ability to step up and help out when the daily reporter was out really helped me to learn quickly and be recognized at the paper.
But, I don't think the line should be drawn on extra work because of possibly being taken advantage of. We should (and I'm trying) to draw the line when we feel that exra work will mean our other work will suffer. This is a hard lesson, and one my editors are dedicated to helping me learn. My suggestion is to find a balance - taking on the wrong amount will mean lower quality work, but taking on the right amount means more chances to learn through doing the job.

# re: New to the blog

Tuesday, April 03, 2007 11:57 AM by ReneePetrina
Welcome! (I extend an extra-special welcome because you are a fellow copy editor.)

I think we GenJ-ers have it made in the shade when it comes to the staffing situations right now. News outlets "aren't hiring" ... unless you are young. (I'm waiting for the age discrimination suit from all the veteran journos who've been told they are overqualified as staffs are cut, then rebuilt solely with entry-level folks.)

I started out at a paper where I could do anything. I was editing, designing, doing local TV bits for our news partner, working on long-term planning for the paper, working with the pressroom, and representing the paper in the community at various events. The nature of the job market right now let me do all those things. It built my resume up to let me jump to the a paper I wanted to be at within 2 years. Take advantage of those opportunities.

And yes, unfortunately, i believe small staffs are in our future. It sucks.
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